Barcelona are being linked with a move for Joao Cancelo and with Manchester City reportedly contemplating a swap deal, sporting director Txiki Begiristain could be heading for a disaster.

What's the word?

According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Pep Guardiola met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and spoke to him about as many as seven Manchester City players who the Catalan club could potentially sign this summer.

Whilst the La Liga giants are unlikely to be able to afford many of City's players due to their worrying financial situation, a swap deal for Cancelo could well be on the cards, with the Portuguese defender reportedly open to moving to the Nou Camp this summer.

Bernardo Silva is another who has been touted as part of a potential double swap deal that could see Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto move to the Etihad in exchange for the two Portugal internationals.

Would this be a good swap?

Whilst Silva endured a difficult season which saw him net just twice in the top-flight, Cancelo was one of the standout performers in the Premier League and Champions League for Guardiola's side and the Citizens should not entertain selling him.

[snack-amp-story url="https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-manchester-city-transfer-rumours-and-news" title="Read the latest Manchester City transfer rumours and news!"]

The 27-year-old contributed two goals and three assists in 28 Premier League appearances and averaged an excellent 7.31 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranked him as the joint second-best performer for City in the top-flight.

Cancelo featured regularly as both a right-back and a left-back and his versatility will be extremely appreciated by Guardiola, so it would be a crazy decision to let him go after his best season in a City shirt, especially when you consider that fellow right-back Kyle Walker will turn 32 next season.

In comparison, 29-year-old right-back Sergi Roberto made just 15 appearances for Barcelona in the Spanish top-flight last season, averaging a far less impressive 6.73 rating from WhoScored, so it would almost certainly be a downgrade if he were to arrive in a swap deal for Cancelo.

[freshpress-quiz id=“577936"]

Therefore, Begiristain should not even consider any swap deal with Barcelona to ensure that the "unbelievable" Cancelo remains at the Etihad this summer.

City fans would rightly be fuming if City allowed Cancelo to leave, given how well he played last season and that anger would only further intensify if the underperforming Roberto came in as his replacement.

And, in other news... Txiki signs Kane in £250m spending spree, no Laporte: How Man City could look next season